Sermon Outline

Schemes and Strategies
Suit Up: Winning the War Within - Part 2

June 8, 2025

The Church won’t fall because hell is strong. It will fall where the saints are asleep.

“¹⁰Finally, be strengthened by the Lord and by His vast strength. ¹¹Put on the full armor of God so that you can stand against the schemes of the devil.” Ephesians 6:10-11 (CSB)

“Schemes” = methodia (methods, traps)

The enemy doesn’t need to destroy the Church if he can distract, divide, and dilute it.

“If you know the real enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles. If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat. If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle.” - Sun Tzu, The Art of War

“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this darkness, against evil, spiritual forces in the heavens.” Ephesians 6:12 (CSB)

9 Schemes of the Enemy

1. Water Down the Word
2. Create Division Over Discipleship
3. Normalize Lukewarm Living
4. Isolate Leaders Until They Collapse
5. Keep the Church Entertained but Not Empowered
6. Silence Their Prayer Life
7. Replace Conviction With Comfort
8. Take Out the Men
9. Confuse the Identity of the Next Generation

“¹³For this reason take up the full armor of God, so that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having prepared everything, to take your stand. ¹⁴Stand, therefore, with truth like a belt around your waist, righteousness like armor on your chest, ¹⁵and your feet sandaled with readiness for the gospel of peace. ¹⁶In every situation take up the shield of faith with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. ¹⁷Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit​—which is the word of God. ¹⁸Pray at all times in the Spirit with every prayer and request, and stay alert with all perseverance and intercession for all the saints.” Ephesians 6:13-18 (CSB)

9 Counterpunches from the Church

1. Anchor yourself in Scripture daily.
2. Protect peace with the people around you.
3. Preach the gospel to yourself everyday.
4. Lock shields with battle brothers and sisters.
5. Don’t just go to Church, BE the Church.
6. Build a daily prayer rhythm that fuels your fight.
7. Don’t flirt with sin. Flee from it.
8. Reject passivity. Accept responsibility. Lead courageously.
9. Be discipled by Christ, not the culture.

Don’t give the enemy a seat at your table.

The devil is loud, but he’s already lost.

He’s got schemes, but you’ve got a Savior.

He’s got tactics, but you’ve got truth.

He’s throwing shade—but you’ve got the Light of the World.

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